How to turn concrete into gold

Learn how Mould Making and Casting can help you Make Money, Have Fun and Develop your Creativity.

* Work at home * Reproduce non-copyright giftware

* Work for yourself * Make one original then cast dozens more

* Earn money part time * Learn closely guarded trade secrets

* Start your own business * Reproduce your own projects for sale or gifts

Thankyou for your interest in mould making and casting. Our company has been involved with moulds and casting for over 20 years and feel we are qualified to commence passing on the knowledge we have learned the hard way over that period.

The fact that you are reading this article shows that you are possibly as keen as we are, in putting these new mould making and casting materials to work for you. You may have some concept that would work if only you could produce multiple items at a low cost. Perhaps a carving, sculpture or a garden statue that would make you money if only you knew how to reproduce it.

It takes something out of the ordinary to get me excited, but I must tell you the mould making and casting products we are receiving lately just get better and better. For thousands of years we have relied on some form of plaster to make mould and cast. Not any more, the silicones and polyurethanes are here to stay. New products keep arriving and more importantly the prices keep getting lower and lower.

The big thing as far as I’m concerned, is that mouldmaking and casting is made for Australian conditions. It’s a natural. With our small population we more often than not cannot afford the high tooling costs involved in getting some projects off the ground. If it looks like costing you $50,000 to $100,000 in having tooling machined to make your new gadget, it is more often than not a case of – “That was a great idea but…..” and another good saleable idea dies stillborn.

Why mould making and casting are such great ways to make money.

Firstly the cost of the raw material is low and getting lower all the time, while your selling prices are high in comparison, as they have nothing to do with your raw material costs. The selling price is determined by the beautiful pot you have made not the few cents you paid for the plaster or concrete to make it. Casting can make you a lot of money providing you master the few simple techniques required and work with materials that have been tested and proven to be suitable for the task at hand.

The second most important reason for a successful money making venture with mould making and casting is in the nature of the process. Unlike most craft projects you do not have to start from scratch every time you make an item. Unlike a wood carver, you make a mould of your original and then put some material into the mould, which reproduces your original – like magic! You do not have to keep on going through the time consuming process of making your original over and over again. The mould does it for you.

The secret that potters discovered hundreds of years ago is now yours, to reproduce items that previously would have required huge machines and big investment. For instance, using these new materials, reproduction parts are being made for vintage cars simply and easily. Plastic parts originally injection moulded can be made in a simple polyurethane or silicone mould by reproducing from an original and you can’t tell the difference.

When I consider the potential that mould making and casting offers a would be entrepreneur, I’m inclined to become a little too enthusiastic – so I will temper my remarks with caution and just try to indicate where I perceive the opportunities to lie. After all it must be your determination and persistence that will count in the end – not mine.

What are the plus factors? Well here are a few to consider. You can start off calling it a hobby or craft while you are trying out one thing or another and build up your experience, until you find your niche market.

You can work at your own pace and set your own hours. You can work at home completely independently of others. You can use your own designs often modelled on what you see around you and you can make them yourself. Anything you can model in clay, wax or wood can be your starting point.

A mould making and casting business can be started with very little money. Starting small has many advantages. Firstly it gives you the opportunity to gain experience while you try various ideas and products. All the while you are building up a basic business kit and the necessary skills. Don’t jump in without experience.

You can operate from anywhere, thus cutting rent costs in the early stages. City or country it doesn’t matter. Some of our most successful customers are not located in cities. For instance a plaster or concrete casting business has great advantages in country areas. The product is heavy and difficult to ship from the city. A local manufacturer has many advantages.

If you have enquired previously about mould making or casting, you will already know how little printed material there is on the subject, and what there is, is hopelessly out of date. There simply does not seem to be anywhere to acquire the necessary knowledge. Fortunately we have the necessary experience in this area to be of help to you. Over the past 20 years we have helped set up and train literally hundreds of very successful Hobby Ceramic Studios around NSW.

Using the knowledge and expertise we have gained over all these years we have moved on to what has grown out of our existing business and has to be, we believe, the greatest potential growth area for small business, mould making and casting. For the first time, we can give you most of the answers and materials we have used and tested on how to reproduce practically any plastic or simulated metal article, figuring or sculpture at a price that will enable you to make big profit margins. This is necessary because you will be low volume to start off with and you need the big profit margins. I hate quoting margins but one of our customers makes dogs costing him $1.50 in materials and sells them for $24.00 retail. Needless to say this is one of his better lines.

Instead of buying your stock from a manufacturer or wholesaler you are making your own unique product. So where do you sell them? I have been compiling a list from reports I have been receiving – no doubt you can thick of many more. Here are a few suggestions: gift shops, departments stores, craft shows, garden centres and of course the big one here in Australia MARKETS & FAIRS.

Markets have given the low cost start to many successful businesses that can now be seen exhibiting in the top Gift Trade Shows around the country.

What type of product can I make using moulds?

The list is endless but to suggest but a few; wall plaques, garden pots, paperweights, figurines, sculpture of all kinds, concrete garden pavers, plastic parts of all kinds, resin fridge magnets, resin cabachons and jewellery, theatre props, rubber stamps, low temperature metal castings such as pewter, architectural mouldings, doll house parts, model railroad parts, garden edging, fountains, garden ornaments, soap, wax shapes, decorations, candles, giftware, fishing lures, fashion jewellery, chess sets and boards and so on – ad infinitum.

To help you get started in the exciting business of mould making and casting, we are compiling a “Tech Tips” section on our website filled with articles and how to do facts, explaining what you need to know about mould manufacturing and casting materials and how to use them. It contains articles on how to make latex, silicone and polyurethane moulds and lists the casting materials available and at the click of a button takes you to the appropriate place to easily purchase an item from our range.

Aldax distributes a wide range of liquid mould rubbers and casting gypsums and resins. The materials create flexible moulds suitable for almost any application. Mould making and casting accessories, release agents, books/videos/DVDs make it easy to get all you need from a single source.

Whether you need a rubber or plastic to spray, brush or pour for applications such as ornamental concrete and plaster casting, architectural restoration, prop production, sculpture, décor reproduction, candle or soap making think ALDAX. Our free technical support, product literature and online catalogue will help get you started. For those interested in concrete garden ornaments we have produced a how to do it book on setting up a small business “How to make Concrete Garden Ornaments”